Whoo Hoot Wednesday Again

Well, hello out there. Here we are and it is Wednesday again already. I can't believe how fast the weeks keep flying by, and it is only going to get worse the closer we get to Christmas. My November and December calendar pages are filling up so fast!

I have made a decision: I am only going to blog once a week, and I am only going to read and comment on blogs once a week. I have been wasting far too much time reading blogs every day, and procrastinating when I should be scrapping instead. So, if I do it all at once, once a week, I figure that will save me time and then I won't waste time on my computer on the other days. I have pretty much only been blogging once or twice a week anyway, and as I am not getting any scrapping done, I don't have anything interesting to show! I am hoping this will result in lots of pages to show when I do blog. So, excuse me if I don't comment on your posts straight away; I will get to them eventually!!

Now, Whoo Hoots for today:

Only 2 more sleeps until the Sketchbook Retreat!! Yay!!!!!!!!! That's a huge one. I have a few page kits organised, I have started packing, and the main thing I have left to do is to print off some more photos. Oh well, it's not like I am going to get heaps done anyway, let's be realistic!! I don't think there is a slower scrapper in existence...

Had a great time cropping with Liz on Friday night; and I couldn't get her to leave before 1am!!! lol!! She's a lot of fun, and no, I didn't get anything done, but I had a great time. And Liz was privileged to view my funky dance moves and lovely singing. Of course, she got a bit done. Not that much, but much more than me. Will definitely have to do that again soon.

My little sis, Nicky, from London, might be coming to visit us soon - haven't seen her in a long while, so can't wait. Not sure on the details yet...

My girlfriend, Leanne, is coming for a visit from Aussie, a week after I get back from the Retreat. Can't wait!

Oh, and who needs SENZ??!! I have been shopping, and got orders from quite a few different s/book shops, plus Debs and I are going to Scrapbooking By Design on our way to the Retreat, plus Crafty Tart have got a shop at the Retreat. So the credit card has taken a bashing, but I figure I saved money on flights and accommodation by not going to SENZ, right??!! Yeah, that's the way my logical mind works....

Finally got another appt with the Fertility Specialist; took a couple of months! But at least now we can talk about the next step.

Spending time lately with my sweet girl, who is growing up just way too fast. I found a cockroach in the house the other day, and she called it a 'crotch-croak', too funny!!!

Oh, and did I mention, only 2 more sleeps until the retreat???!!!

Off to bed shortly for an early night, so goodnight!

Whoo Hoot Wednesday

Just a quick note here to let you know that I have given up on bloglines as I found more and more blogs were not updating on there, and I am now with Google Reader. So far, they seem much better; the layout is not as good as bloglines, but at least it updates!

Well, another Whoo Hoot Wednesday actually on a Wednesday; I am really on a roll!! OK, let's get started:

Another nice day - well, a little cloudy at times, but still nice and warm

An almost-empty laundry basket - this weather is great for doing all my washing, love it!

Sketchbook Retreat only a week and a half away, can't wait!!

Getting some journalling written down and page kits organised for the retreat, and a couple of cards made

Newly cleaned and organised scrap room - feel so comfortable in here now

Christmas coming soon - I know that it is all a marketing ploy, but I personally love it when the shops start putting out all their Christmas decorations and playing Christmas music; it adds such a festive air to my shopping (I am aware I am probably alone in this and that most people think it is terrible that shops start sooner every year, but I don't care, I love it!)

Told my hubby that I will be doing some shopping for the retreat, so now I can place a few orders and not feel too guilty - just love scrapping shopping!

My sweet girl who always wants to give me snuggles and cuddles and a DH who, despite usually being not-so-great around the house and with childcare, is looking after DD for the whole weekend whilst I go to the Retreat - and he is not even complaining about it! (Thanks, Honey)

Skype, so I can see and talk to my sister, Nick, in London as often as I like (when we are online at the same time!)

Umm, that is all I can think of right now. I have no photos to post for you, as the only things I have started and completed are some cards, one of which I didn't get a photo, and the other which hasn't been sent yet, and as for scrapping, I am gettting layouts started but putting them in kits for the retreat, so nothing is finished. At least I am back doing some scrapping after a few weeks of not doing anything; that seems to be what I usually do, scrap for a while, then have a couple of weeks where I just can't seem to do anything but procrastinate - must need that break sometimes, I guess. OK, hope everyone has a great week, and maybe I will have something to show you on the weekend as looks like Liz is coming over Friday night for a scrapping session - yay!!

Welcome to a Newcomer...

Just a quick post to say CONGRATULATIONS to my good scrapping friend, Serena. Most of you will know Serena from SYTYCS over at Scrapbooking By Design, and/or the Olympics at The Sketchbook.

Serena, Hape and their daughter, Jordan, have welcomed into the world little Jacob Samuel, born last Saturday. Here are some photos of the adorable little boy.

Well done, guys, he is just beautiful!!

Whoo Hoot Wednesday...

And it's even on Wednesday!!! Well, that's gotta count as the first Whoo Hoot. Others as follows:

Kindy started back this week which equals more scrapping time for me - didn't manage to get anything even vaguely scrappy done in the last couple of weeks.

Spent most of yesterday rearranging and tidying my scrap room - see pics below. Love it now!!

Only 2 weeks and 2 days until the Sketchbook Retreat - can't wait!! And I think it was Janine who asked if I had a costume organised, and yes, I sort-of have, need a few accessories. It is very basic though; I am not really one for dressing up - and I also want to be comfortable, 'cos I have to crop all night in whatever I wear!

Ummmm, what else ... oh yes, put in a lovely big order with Scrappin' Patch, always love a good scrap shop. Oh, and another order with Stampin' Up! for some tools - a circle punch and some watercolour crayons with blender pens. I saw Megan using these at the crop recently, and thought they looked lovely, so can't wait to get those and have a play.

Beautiful weather the last couple of days, and therefore, an almost-empty laundry basket. Love that!

Oh, I am having brain freeze right now and can't think of anything else, so will start telling you all about my scrap room and maybe some more things will occur to me and I can add them later.

So, I spent quite a few hours on my scrap room yesterday. And yes, I know I am very lucky to have a scrap room all to myself. I thought I would share some photos of it - but please bear in mind, it is not a pretty room; my money tends to go on supplies rather than storage of supplies. Much as I would love to have a gorgeous room like the ones in all those American magazines, my room is far from that!! All my furniture is a mish-mash of cheap Warehouse bookcases and stuff. I love my scrap table though; inherited from my BIL when he moved to Dubai, it is a lovely wooden 2m long table, just the perfect size. I really decided I wanted to change my room around 'cos I wanted to put in my sweetie's little desk and chair as she is now going to the 'big kids' session at kindy, and has a homework book! so now she can sit and do her homework (which, so far, consists of writing her name and drawing a picture, so cute!) while I am on the computer or scrapping. Lovely! Here is a pic of her desk close to my table:

My table is to the right of Aurelia's desk; to the left is my sewing table - I don't really do any sewing, only repairs and on my layouts! To the left of the sewing table is the computer desk. Note my new cuttlebug behind my sewing machine!

And this is where the magic happens - ha ha. Under my desk is a couple of baskets with chipboard, stickers, rubons, and stuff. In front of my desk are bookcases filled with scrapping stuff, more details below. But note my new tote at the right; some of the girls at the crop had these and recommended them, so I got one from K-Mart - it only cost $25, and it holds absolutely heaps, so it keeps my desk nice and clear of stuff. All of my tools, adhesive and stuff fits in. And I can just pick it up and take it with me to crops.

At left is one of my bookcases of stuff, with paint, punches, glitter, buttons, flowers, beads, tags, glimmer mist and alcohol inks. To the left are some Cropper Hopper files filled with all my cardstock, and a small folder with stickers.

The last bookcases (right), and my paper storage. Yes, those tan shelves are bulging with all my pp. Only pp. The other shelves hold more chipboard, templates and cutters, heat embossing stuff and heatgun, stamps and inks, embellishments, and felt. In between the tall bookcases are folders with rubons in one, and stickers in the other. On the far side of the bookcases is 12 x 12 felt, c/board and stamps. And that's about it. I am currently sanding and painting a corkboard to display my most recent/fave layouts and inspiration, which should help brighten up the walls.

And that's pretty much it. There is one more wall with a big white cupboard with doors and a big wooden bookcase, and these store my albums, photos, work-in-progress, mags and books, and other bits and pieces.

Ok, that's enough for today, methinks. I am going to go and try to do a little scrapping, but I am very tired and I think an early night is in order. Well, reasonably early for me, anyway. Goodnight to you all.

Goodness, it's late...

...too late to think of a clever title. Before we get started, I just want to let you all know about the problem I am having with bloglines. Apparently, when I post on my blog, Bloglines is not updating to let everyone know. Thanks to Sandra, who alerted me to this - she is having the same problem, and is having no joy with Blogger, who are not replying to her attempts to contact them. So, we will see what happens. I have to admit, I did wonder why I wasn't getting as many comments on my blog...thought maybe I wasn't being witty or interesting enough or something...lol!!

I haven't been online or scrapping too much lately with the holidays and being at my Sister's place in Tauranga, and I have really missed it. So, I am a bit behind with my Whoo Hoots, but will catch up on Wednesday.

We had a great time at Leanne's place; Aurelia just loved spending every day with her cousins, even though the two girls fought heaps! Just like siblings, I guess. They miss each other now, but at least kindy starts back tomorrow, so Aurelia will have her friends to play with. We spent a day in Rotorua, going up the gondola and down the luge, which was heaps of fun.

This is Aurelia and I on the tail of her cousin, Caleb. Speed machines!!
Whilst I was there, Leanne asked me to take some photos of her kids - so here are my gorgeous niece and nephew. Not the best photo, but believe me, it wasn't easy getting a good shot of both of them!

The kids playing on the tramp at Lee's, and Aurelia having a melt-down - she was up so early there, and was pretty tired a lot of the time. She actually fell asleep in the car a couple of times, which she hasn't done in over a year.

Ok, now I have caught up on all my computer stuff, I am going to spend some time this week organising my scrap room, and then making up some kits for the Sketchbook Retreat - I am beginning to get excited now, only a few weeks to go. I want to be really organised so I have kits and don't have to take my whole scrap room! And maybe I will even get some scrapping done! That would be nice; I have a few ideas floating around in my head I would like to get down on paper. Right, off to bed! See you Wednesday for Whoo Hoots...well, I won't promise!!

Long Time No Post...

Well, I know it has been a while, but I have been busy! Actually, it is not so much that I am busy, but that I am not at home. I am currently at my Sister's house in Tauranga, having a lovely relaxing time. She does have a computer, but it is located in the room that Aurelia is sleeping in, so I don't get much time to go on it. It is nearly her bedtime, but I thought I would quickly come on and tell you all where I have been. We are about halfway through our visit, and as always, I don't want it to end. I do miss my own house and especially my own bed, but I just love seeing my sis. I know when we get home it will be awfully quiet again after all this noise and chaos - my sister has 2 kids, a stepson who was also visiting until yesterday, and is currently pregnant. So, in all, pretty blimmen' noisy!! It is great though; Aurelia has such a fun time and basically amuses herself all day, which makes the holidays go quicker - I sometimes struggle to entertain her when she is home everyday. Just one reason I can't wait for her to have a sibling.

In other good news (consider this my Whoo Hoots for last week), my layout was accepted for publication in Up2Scrap, and I have now sent it in - my first time being published, yay for me!!!

The Sketchbook Retreat is coming up very soon now - less than a month away, I can't wait. I am very disappointed that Trace isn't able to come now, and that Liz won't be there for the whole time (if at all - are you coming for the day, Liz??), but never mind, I am sure there will be plenty of other lovely ladies for me to talk to.

My layout for Challenge 5 of the Sketchbook Olympics was another runner-up, which was nice. (Pictured below).

We had a great day in Rotorua on Saturday, going up the gondola and down the luge - I have some great photos I will post when I get home.

Had a great day out with DizzyLizzy on Wednesday; taking the kids on the train and out for a play and some lunch. Was great to get to know her better, and also to find out our husbands know of each other and have quite a bit in common!

I can't post any pics today as I am not on my PC, but as soon as I am home I will have some photos for you. Have to go now as it is Aurelia's bedtime and I need to turn the computer off! Have a great week, and I will post again when I get home later this week.